Leeds cuts: Bus and train fare fears and no news on trolleybus

* Warnings that reductions in subsidies for bus and rail services could lead to higher fares
* Concerns that council funding reduction could hurt transport services
* Metro chief hopes for positive outcome on trolleybus

A transport chief still hopes the £200 million Leeds trolleybus scheme will go-ahead - despite no direct mention being made by the government in this lunchtime's comprehensive spending review.

Chris Greaves is chairman of West Yorkshire's publicly-funded passenger transport authority Metro. He said he expected 'a positive announcement' about the New Generation Transport scheme next week - but had a gloomy forecast over higher bus and train fares and cuts to services.

Greaves said:

"Although we have not had any specific news today on the planned Leeds NGT trolleybus scheme, given the government's stated aims of supporting public transport and sustainable low carbon transport initiatives, we should be able to expect the secretary of state for transport to make a positive announcement about the scheme next week.

"We have already reduced the scheme's costs by 15% or £35m which is more than the chancellor's 10% reduction in capital spending on transport projects nation-wide.

"By investing in the trolleybus network, the government would show that it really is interested in fairness by demonstrating that it is keen to start reversing the years of transport underspending in our region which last year saw just £248 per person spent on transport compared with £334 nationally, and £641 in London.

"Because they also meet the government's objectives, we also await what should be positive news on the planned new Kirkstall and Apperley Bridge stations for which we have, thanks to the significant developer contributions available, already been able to submit alternative ways of phasing package to reduce the initial funding pressure on the DfT."

The Labour government earlier this year granted Programme Entry Approval to the NGT Trolleybus scheme and allocated funding for the North Route to Bodington, the South Route to Stourton and a city centre link between these routes. In addition the government also gave approval to a proposed extension of the North Route to serve the Holt Park area.

Warnings over reduction in service subsidies

Greaves also said that reductions in subsidies for bus and rail services could defeat the government's objectives of reducing congestion.

Bus and rail passengers face fare rises, and reduced services could become a reality as the Department for Transport targeted operators' grants.

Greaves said:

"I am surprised that having emphasised it supports public transport and green transport initiatives, the government has today announced these measures.

"While I think that bus operators enjoying unrealistically high profit levels should absorb the cut in the Bus Service Operators Grant I fear it is unlikely, which means we are going to be faced with rising bus and train fares, and that in turn will mean more people abandoning public transport and going back to their cars."

Council funding reduction hits transport

Referring to the 28% spending cut being imposed on local councils over four years, Greaves said:

"We rely upon funding from the five West Yorkshire for around half of our spending, which is why we have already started the planning process to identify in what ways we can absorb potential budget cuts.

"While, as we have already pointed out, we may have to look at how we support bus services and operate facilities such as bus stations, we will be unable to make any specific decisions until the West Yorkshire districts have had the chance to see how they are affected."

A parents' support adviser, a community services co-ordinator and a member of the UK Youth Parliament discuss how the public spending cuts announced by George Osborne will affect them, local services and council budgets and the residents of Little London in Leeds